Norman Swan, Coronacast co-host and commentator for ABC, is urging Victorians to register their Myki card for contact tracing – which sounds good in theory but also, have you actually tried to register your Myki card??
Victorians get vaccinated as soon as you can. Don’t wait. This is a highly contagious variant. Also register your Myki card so you can be tracked on trams and trains. Plus masks.
— Norman Swan (@normanswan) May 25, 2021
There’s been reports that the COVID-19 variant in Melbourne is the highly contagious India strain, and Swan is urging people to get vaccinated as soon as possible, if they are able to.
The recommendation comes after Victoria just recorded six new cases of COVID-19 today on top of the five cases announced yesterday, bringing the total cases in Melbourne to 15.
Over 26,000 tests results were received overnight as people rushed to get tested amidst the growing outbreak. Testing clinics are expected to be inundated again today, given the news that someone tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the Collingwood vs Port Adelaide game at the MCG over the weekend.
A positive case attended the Collingwood/Port Adelaide game at the MCG on Sunday, 23 May – sitting in Zone 4, Level 1 of the Great Southern Stand (the Punt Rd end of the stand).
[1/6]— Victorian Department of Health (@VicGovDH) May 25, 2021
Contact tracing is under way, but Norman Swan reckons Melburnians should smooth the process by registering their Myki cards so their locations can be tracked on trams and trains. Which, like, I get the reasoning in terms of contact tracing purposes – but also, registering Myki cards is anything but a smooth process. And given the privacy breaches in 2019, I’m really not surprised that some people probably don’t want to register their Myki.
As of right now, restrictions include indoor gatherings restrictions of just 5 people, with outdoor gatherings limited to 30. On top of that, face masks are mandatory in all indoor settings (unless there is a specific exemption). This includes all workplaces and schools, which are currently remaining open.
Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino said in a presser today that the new cases highlight the importance of people coming forward for testing, and also confirmed that the cases are linked.
“These cases are linked, and that’s a good thing. But we are very concerned by the number, and by the kind of exposure site,” Merlino said.
He also added that he couldn’t rule out tougher restrictions on greater Melbourne, and that the next few hours were crucial to determining whether or not Melbourne would need to go into lockdown again.
“It’s fair to say that the next 24 hours are going to be particularly critical,” he said.
